Acupuncture and physiotherapy offer adjunct welfare benefits for cats with chronic pain and mobility limitations. Understanding their evidence base guides appropriate use.
Cats with chronic pain from conditions like osteoarthritis or post-surgical recovery may benefit from complementary therapies that augment conventional analgesia. While evidence is less robust than for dogs, appropriately applied acupuncture and physiotherapy can improve mobility and comfort in selected patients. The key welfare requirement is that these therapies are applied by trained professionals with species-appropriate handling.